Take a look at autumn at Sheringham Park

Beech tree in autumn colour — An ancient beech tree in Sheringham Park showing its autumn colour

Autumn is time of change and one of plenty, as nature gradually prepares for the coming winter. At times it can still feel like summer observing butterflies and dragonflies busily feeding but the early morning dew and a mass of glittering spider webs leaves us in no doubt that we are saying goodbye, sometimes slowly , to long summer days

Changes in colour

Autumn colour is hard to predict as weather conditions have an influence on when changes occur and the overall quality of the show. Some of our specimen trees are often the first to turn; it is worth looking out for smooth Japanese maple and golden larch which are both along the main drive.

The leaves on the giant branches of the ancient beeches turning yellow are a spectacular sight and the autumn hue of the oak woodland viewed from the end of the drive will set cameras clicking.

Smooth Japanese maple in the autumn — Smooth Japanese maple in autumn colour

Natures Fruit

Rowan berries and blackberries decorate the park providing a food source for many birds. Blackbirds can be seen trying to defend bushes of fruit, which are equally attractive for flocks of fieldfare and redwings which migrate to our warmer climes for the winter.

Flocks of finches can be seen feeding below sprawling beeches in mast years and we too can enjoy the harvest of the sweet chestnuts.

Girls picking blackberries — Watch out for thorns!

Fungi

Keep your eye out for the hundreds of varieties of fungi as you walk around; the sticking fly agaric can be seen in the woodland and over a dozen species of brightly coloured waxcaps have been recorded in the parkland.

If you would like to discover more about fungi book on to the fungi foray or, for a more in depth look, an all-day fungi workshop.

Waxcaps in the parkland at Sheringham park — Several different varieties of waxcaps can often be found in the parkland.

Wildlife

Autumn is often a good time to observe butterflies with freshly emerged red admirals, peacocks and small tortoiseshells to be seen. Southern hawker and common darter dragonflies are both very active, the Bower pond is good place to sit back and enjoy them.

We say goodbye to many species of bird as they move south, although you can still often observe large numbers of swallows and martins feeding in the parkland busily fuelling up for the long flight to Africa.

Moving in from the north come flocks of redwings and fieldfare, large numbers of finches can also be seen and pink footed geese can often be heard flying over.

A female Southern hawker dragonfly laying eggs. — Southern hawker dragonflies can be seen on the wing at this time of year.

" The sound of pink-footed geese flying over is one that always stop me in my steps as I glance skywards to see large skeins flying over the park. "